Vaughan Williams: The String Quartets; Phantasy Quintet

On this CD:

1. Phantasy Quintet for 2 violins, 2 violas, & cello
Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Performed by Simon Rowland-Jones

2. String Quartet No. 1 in G minor
Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams

3. String Quartet No. 2 in A minor ("For Jean on Her Birthday")
Composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams

Tracks:

Phantasy Quintet: Prelude: Lento ma non troppo
Phantasy Quintet: Scherzo: Prestissimo
Phantasy Quintet: Alla Sarabanda: Lento
Phantasy Quintet: Burlesca: Allegro moderato
String Quartet No. 1 in G minor: Allegro moderato
String Quartet No. 1 in G minor: Minuet and Trio: Tempo do minuetto
String Quartet No. 1 in G minor: Romance: Andante sostenuto
String Quartet No. 1 in G minor: Finale: Rondo Capriccioso - Allegro
String Quartet No. 2 in A minor: Prelude: Allegro appassionato
String Quartet No. 2 in A minor: Romance: Largo
String Quartet No. 2 in A minor: Scherzo: Allegro
String Quartet No. 2 in A minor: Epilogue: Andante sostenuto

Customer Reviews:

Lovely, if largely unknown, works.......2007-07-20

Ralph Vaughan Williams tends to be relatively unknown and unplayed outside of the UK these days, except for a few pieces, like his Greensleeves Fantasia, the Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, or the exquisitely lyrical The Lark Ascending. He's become known as an English pastoralist on the basis of these few works. A shame, really, because he has much more going for him: his Fourth Symphony is a seething, dissonant response to WWI, while his Eighth suggests Shostakovich in its wry humor. The three chamber works on this CD will not disappoint those who are hoping for RVW in his lyric, English landscape mode, especially the lovely Phantasy Quintet. But I suggest a closer listen to the Quartet in A minor, which dates from the middle of WWII. It's not a work filled with anger or dissonance, but rather with a deep sadness mixed with determination and strength. A fitting portrait of the British as they survived the war, and all round a beautifully constructed composition. The playing and sound is excellent.

Wonderful Introduction to Vaughan Williams' Chamber Music.......2005-08-01

Gorgeous pieces with very direct appeal, and very finely performed. The spirit of English folk music -- ballads *and* dances -- pervades much of this disc. Ralph Vaughan Williams's characteristic blend of modal harmony and simple, straightforward melody (both of which owe something to folksong) is much in evidence here. In addition, the influence of VW's studies with Ravel can be felt in the two earlier works on this CD, the Phantasie and First Quartet.

As an homage to Renaissance English works for consorts of viols, this Phantasie never reaches self-consciously for archaic gestures. Its fairly short movements instead opt for alternating dreamy and dance-like moods, with just a bit of counterpoint thrown in occasionally. The extra viola affords a chance for richer textures and nice contrasts: just listen to the evocative opening measures, in which a plaintive solo viola is answered by ethereal sustained chords from the other players. Absolutely captivating.

The First Quartet, written about the same time, has a similar style but longer and more formally worked-out movements. So VW can approach more ardent romanticism in the slow movement -- there's time to build to a real climax or two. The Second Quartet, from the early 1940s, is more astringent and dramatic, probably reflecting the anxieties of the war years.

This is a terrific recording technically as well. It manages to achieve intimacy without the sense of microphones having been shoved in the performers' faces (or fingerboards). Vibrant, rich sounds. If you enjoyed this, try the EMI reissue of another Vaughan Williams work, "An Oxford Elegy," which offers a similar combination of controlled but deeply felt emotion within an English pastoral "landscape" (here imagined, there invoked more directly).

Bullseye.......2004-09-30

The playing is wonderful, and the music is some of the most vastly under-rated string music I've run across. The Phantasy Quintet, which I had not heard before purchasing this CD, shines magnificently. Any fan of Vaughan Williams or 20th Century English music in general should definitely pick up this disc. It's a real gem. The music is brilliant and the performers eqally-match technique and passionate interpretation.

Definitely deserving of it's awards.

Startling and profound 2nd quartet........2004-05-04

I agree with the other reviewers about this disc. The precision and sheen of the Magginis is perfectly realised in the 1st Quartet, redolent of Ravel and the English summer. It was the probing, penetrating and darkly hued performance of the 2nd quartet which grabbed my attention. The hallucinating presence of the stabbing viola cries in the quartet linger in the mind. Not only do the Magginis make this music glisten, but they dig deep into the 2nd quartet revealing the inspiration and the pain. This is one of those discs which make jolt you and help you get closer to composer's inner thoughts.

A True Winner at a Bargain Price.......2001-10-30

'Gramophone''s "Chamber Music of the Year" award winner for 2001...and at such a bargain price!

Tracks:

Phantasy Qnt: I. Prld Lento Ma Non Troppo
Phantasy Qnt: II. Scherzo Pretissimo
Phantasy Qnt: III. Alla Sarabanda Lento
Phantasy Qnt: IV. Burlesca Allegro Moderato
Str Qt No.1 in g: I. Allegro Moderato
Str Qt No.1 in g: II. Minuet And Trio Tempo Di Minuetto
Str Qt No.1 in g: III. Romance Andante Sostenuto
Str Qt No.1 in g: IV. Finale: Rondo Capriccioso Allegro Molto
Str Qt No.2 in a: I. Prld Allegro Appassionato
Str Qt No.2 in a: II. Romance Largo
Str Qt No.2 in a: III. Scherzo Allegro
Str Qt No.2 in a: IV. Epilogue Andante Sostenuto

Vaughan Williams: The String Quartets; Phantasy Quintet

Average customer rating:

Vaughan Williams: The String Quartets; Phantasy Quintet

Manufacturer: Nimbus
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000050UT7
Release Date: 1989-01-01

Tracks:

Phantasy Qnt: I. Prld Lento Ma Non Troppo
Phantasy Qnt: II. Scherzo Pretissimo
Phantasy Qnt: III. Alla Sarabanda Lento
Phantasy Qnt: IV. Burlesca Allegro Moderato
Str Qt No.1 in g: I. Allegro Moderato
Str Qt No.1 in g: II. Minuet And Trio Tempo Di Minuetto
Str Qt No.1 in g: III. Romance Andante Sostenuto
Str Qt No.1 in g: IV. Finale: Rondo Capriccioso Allegro Molto
Str Qt No.2 in a: I. Prld Allegro Appassionato
Str Qt No.2 in a: II. Romance Largo
Str Qt No.2 in a: III. Scherzo Allegro
Str Qt No.2 in a: IV. Epilogue Andante Sostenuto

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Phantasy Quintet / String Quartets Nos.

Average customer rating:

Ralph Vaughan Williams: Phantasy Quintet / String Quartets Nos.
Ralph Vaughan Williams , and The English String Quartet
Manufacturer: Unicornio Cuba
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001PCO
Release Date: 1993-12-07

Tracks: